John 16:1-6 1. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6. But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Verse one - things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

[A] These things. [1] These things is referring to everything Jesus has been talking about to his disciples up to this point [2] These things is everything he has been trying to prepare them for, which is about to happen

[B] That you should not be offended [1] The way that John is using the word offended here in verse one means to stumble or fall. [2] When we put it into perspective then in this context Jesus was telling his disciples all these things to prepare them so that they would not stumble or fall when he was no longer with them. [3] The disciples were about to face great difficulties, and much persecution, Jesus was doing everything he could to prepare them and give them strength to overcome.

Verse two - They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

[A] They shall put you out of the synagogues [1] They would ban them from the temple [2] They would not be allowed to worship [3] They would be cut off from their people, and shunned [4] They would not be allowed to do business in Israel

[B] The time cometh [1] Jesus was about to die [2] He would be leaving the disciples behind to do his work for him [3] He would not leave them comfortless, but instead would send the Holy Spirit to them

[C] Whoever kills you will think that are doing God a service. [1] The Jews who persecuted the apostles regarded them as blasphemers, [2] They thought the disciples to be trying to overthrow the temple service, and the Jewish system of religion God had established with Moses. [3] Thus they supposed they were rendering a service to God by putting the followers of Christ to death,

[D] I want you to consider a moment what was happening in Israel. [1] Jesus came preaching something entirely different than the Priest preaches [2] Many things he and his disciples did, differed from the what Jewish people were supposed to act. [a] Jesus healed on the Sabbath which the Priest considered work [b] The disciples gathered grain on the Sabbath and ate it, that was considered work [c] They traveled on the Sabbath [d] Many other offenses did they do [3] Now, we know that Jesus was in the right, but I want to ask you a question, how would you feel if someone were to come and do thing differently than what we believe and teach?

Verse three - And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

[A] What things? [1] Everything Jesus has been telling them will happen [2] They will be persecuted [3] They will be put to death [4] The people doing this to them will think they are doing God’s will

[B] The reason they will do these things is because they did not know Jesus,

[C] Because they did not know Jesus, they did not know the father either, making it impossible to believe what Jesus taught them.

Verse four - But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

[A] Everything that Jesus had told them was about to take place

[B] Everything he had warned them about, everything he had told them would happen to himself, everything he had told them would happen to them was about to take place.

[C] When all these things happened, they would remember what he had told them and believe in him even more. [1] For instance, when Jesus was crucified, his disciples had a very hard time believing [2] Even when he ascended back to heaven, we see it written that some of them standing there, still did not believe [3] Thomas had to place his hands in Christ side, and his fingers in the nail holes to believe. [4] There belief was only cemented into their heart and lives after they received the Holy Spirit, He told them what they needed to know, even as he tells us.

Verse five - But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

[A] Jesus was about to leave them, so it was only proper for him top tell them these things.

[B] Yet, even though Jesus has repeatedly told them he was going to leave them, not a one of them asked him where he was going. [1] Do you find this strange? [2] How could they hear him saying he was leaving them, and yet not ask him where he was going?

Verse six - But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

[A] Actually, Jesus answers that question for us. [1] Because of what he had told them, their hearts was filled with sorrow [2] They were so disturbed by what he has said, that they never thought to ask him where he was headed

[A] Questions [1] If you were to hear form someone whom you know to have the truth in them, and they were to tell you that you were going to face persecution, and even death – what would your reaction be? [2] Its awful easy to judge the disciples, but were we in their place, would we have acted any differently?

John 16:7-11 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9. Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Verse seven - Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

[A] Jesus makes it very plain that he had to go away, so the Holy Spirit could come [1] If he did not go, the Holy Spirit would not come [2] If he did go away, he would send the Holy Spirit to them

[B] Still, it has to be asked why the presence of the Holy Spirit was more valuable to them than that of the Saviour himself? [1] Once he had died, been resurrected and departed back to heaven, - by having these facts laid out before them that he has been offering to them, - they would be led by the Holy Spirit to fully understand God’s design for his coming. This could not happen if he remained. [a] While he was with them, their minds were filled with prejudice and error. [b] They still believed he would set up his kingdom in Jerusalem [c] They were unwilling to believe he was going to die. [2] When he should leave them, they could no longer doubt him [a] They would be prepared to understand why he had come. This very thing happened, and we can see it as we read the book of the Acts of the Apostles. [b] We needed Jesus to come and live among us, so that we could be humbled and willing to understand the plainest of all truth [3] While he was still here on the earth Jesus could only be present in one place at a time. [a] In order to secure our salvation and help us along the path of eternal life, it was needful that someone should be in all places at one time, [b] Someone had to look after all those who ministers in his name, and at the same time, apply the work of Christ to men in all parts of the earth. [4] It was part of God’s great plan of redemption that each of the persons in the Trinity should perform a part. [a] It was not the work of the Spirit to make an atonement, it was the work of Christ. [b] Until after Jesus performed this great work, the way had not been opened for the Holy Spirit to descend and perform his part of God’s plan

[C] When the Saviour completed his work and left the earth to return to heaven, the Spirit was able to carry out his plan and apply it to all men.

[D] Preaching of the gospel was much greater after Christ carried out the atonement, and after the Holy Spirit began to work in the hearts of all mankind.

Verse eight - And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

[A] When the Holy Spirit comes, it was to reprove, or in other words to correct, to convict and to make change in people.

[B] I believe each of us has experienced this in our lives at one time or another, when the Holy Spirit has convicted us of something we are doing or have done.

[C] It is the Holy Spirit who causes a person to want to accept Jesus and He who causes change in our hearts

Verse nine - Of sin, because they believe not on me;

[A] The first thing that Jesus specified of which the Holy Sprit wold convict the world of, was sin.

[B] What is Sin, [1] Any violation of a law of God, [2] Any act done which is contrary to what God wants us to do.

[C] Here though. There is a particular sins Jesus is referring too [1] The sin of rejecting the Lord Jesus. [2] This sin is placed first, and deemed the greatest of all sins [3] It is the sin that the world is most guilty of committing

Verse ten - Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

[A] This seems to clearly refer to the righteousness and the innocence of Jesus. [1] He was going to be persecuted. [2] He was going to be arraigned on heavy charges, [3] He was going to be condemned by the highest authority in the nation as being guilty. [4] Yet, even though he would be condemned, the Holy Spirit would come and convince the world that he was innocent.

[B] Because I go to my Father. The miracle of his resurrection and ascension to God would demonstrate his innocence and satisfy both the Jew and Gentile. God would not raise up an impostor. If he had been guilty, God would have left him in the grave; but when he raised him up and exalted him to sit at his right hand, he showed the world that he approved of Christ work, giving evidence that Jesus was sent from God.

[C] And ye see me no more. He was to be taken from them, and they would see him no more until they were gathered to be with him; yet this source of grief was to be the how they established his religion and blessed others by it.

Verse eleven - Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

[A] Of judgment. Go is just, and he will execute his judgment upon the wicked.

[B] The Prince of this world. [1] Who is the Prince of the world? [a] Satan [2] Why is he the Prince of the World? [a] The world and everything in it belongs to him

[C] The Prince of this world is judged [1] The death of Christ was a judgment or a condemnation of Satan. [2] In this struggle Jesus gained the victory and subdued the great enemy of mankind. [a] This proves that God will execute his judgment on all his foes. [b] If he vanquished his greatest enemy, one who had so long triumphed in this world, he will subdue all others in due time. [c] All sinners in like manner may expect to be condemned.